Timing device



G. F'. DUVALL.

TIMING DEVICE Dec. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 13, 1949 G. F.DUVALL Dec. 25, 1951` TIMING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1949Hlllmn Dec. 25, 1951 G, F, DUVALL 2,580,287

TIMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C) I W www Mw 7548/m/e/zor Patented Dec. 25, 1951 TIMIN G DEVICE Gordon F. Duvall,deceased,

late of Newton,

Mass., by Harriet Irene Duvall, administratrix, Ballston Spa, N. Y.,assigner to American Time Corporation, Springfield,

of Massachusetts Mass., a corporation Application January 13, 1949,Serial No. 70,737

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in timingdevices especially designed and adapted for controlling the operation ofa bank of switch actuating cams.

The invention has for its principal object the provision in a timingdevice of a spring actuated drive bar, the movement of which iscontrolled by a master cam, having a plurality of steps which permit theperiodical movement of the drive bar in a direction for rotatingsimultaneously the bank oi' cams.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provisionof a timing device of the character herein described which is especiallydesigned for use in timing the operation of a machine such for example,a washing apparatus which requires timed operation of its mechanism tocomplete a cycle of operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a timing device of aspring actuated mechanism for controlling the periodical movement of abank of cams without lost motion or delay, whereby to effect quick andpositive movement of the cams of the bank to a position where they areexpected to perform the respective functions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the timing device embodied in the inventiontaken substantially on line of Fig. 5;

Fig. 2 1s a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially online 2--2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is an end view as viewed from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view as viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 5 5 ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view as viewed from the left in Fig. 3.

Prior to this invention, it was a common practice to control theperiodical closing of a bank of switches by means of a cam shaftrotatable at a constant uniform speed of rotation to bring the camsthereon into engagement with the switches. While this method ofcontrolling the bank of switches is not entirely objectionable, yet dueto the fact that the cams move into switch closing position no fasterthan the rotation of the cam, there resulted considerable delay in theactual closing and opening of the switches. Unless properly timed, thephase of operation of the mechanism becomes disrupted. This inventionhas for its object the provision of spring-actuated mechanism foreffecting a snap-like action of the cam into switch-actuating position,thereby eliminating any delay which would otherwise result from a slowclosing operation. The arrangement also reduces, to a minimum, arcing atthe switch points.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providingin a timing mechanism a front wall I0 and a rear wall Il. The front WallI0 and the rear wall are connected together at corresponding corners byspacer bars I2. To these spacer bars I2 are connected as at I3 a topwall |4` and a bottom wall I5.

A timing motor of a Well known conventional construction is indicated atI6. This motor is supported from the wall I I as at I1.

This motor is connected in circuit with a suitable source of electricenergy by conductors I8. It includes a shaft I9. On this shaft isfixedly secured in any suitable manner, a hub 2! formed as an integralpart of a clutch disc 2|) of a clutch structure 2|. This clutchstructure 2| includes a complementary clutch disc 22 having a pluralityof spring iingers 23 adapted to slide over the tapered teeth 24 of theclutch disc 23 when rotated in one direction and adapted to have latchengagement with the teeth when rotated in an opposite direction toprovide a coupling between the discs 2| and 22. The clutch disc 22 isfiXedly secured in any suitable manner to a portion 25 of a sleeve 26.This sleeve 26 is rotatable upon the shaft I9. On the hub portion 25 ofthe sleeve 26 isxedly secured a cam 29, hereafter referred to as aprogram cam, as it is this cam which governs the movement of the bank ofswitch-actuating cams hereinafter referred to.

Slidably mounted transversely of a hub portion 28 of the sleeve 26 is adrive bar 30. This drive bar 30 is of elongated formation and has anelongated slot 3| formed therein through which projects the hub portion28. The sleeve 26 provides a reduced hub portion 32 on which aswitch-actuating cam 33 is Xedly mounted. Adjacent this cam 33 and xedlysecured to the sleeve 26 is a coupler arm 34 having a latch finger 35.This latch nger 35 is adapted to have latched engagement with a keepernotch 36 formed in a coupler disc 38 mounted upon a stud shaft 31. Thisdisc 38 provides a hub portion 39 through which the stud shaft 31projects.

Threaded upon the hub portion 39 is a finger knob 4I.

The drive bar 30 has a second elongated slot 40 formed therein in spacedlongitudinal alignment with respect to the slot 3| and through which the:shaft '53" :of va spring motor 53 projects.

The drive bar 30 is provided with a rider pin 42. A bank of cams isindicated at 45. The cams 46 of this bank of cams control the openingand closing of circuit switches 41 connected by conductors 48 in circuitwith the electric operating or driving element (not shown) vwithin thatcircuit. This bank of cams is lfixedly secured Vto a shaft 49 journalledbetween the walls I9 and Il.

On this shaft 49 is fixedly secured a 4hub 59. This hub 59 carries apinion 5I which operatively meshes with a rack 52 securedto .and carriedby the drive bar 30. Secured to this shaft in any suitable manner is one,end portion of lthe clock spring 53, the oppositefend of this springbeing connectedas at -54 to a pin carried by the wall Hl.

A starting `switch lis indicated at 51. This switch is carried by 4theVwall I4 and is adapted to control the circuit to the timing motor.switch 51 includes a contact nger 55, the Yend portion of which isadapted to be engaged by the hill 55 of the cam 33. When this switch isclosed, the circuit to the timing motor will be completed.

The program cam 29 is provided witha plurality of steps 59 which areadapted to be successvely engaged by the rider pin 42 as the programlcam 29 is jrotated. n There lare `as many steps 59 as there varecarnson the bank The A of cams 45.

The operation of the timing device is initiated l by rotating the handknob 4| 'to effect coupling between the nger 35 and the disc 38. Thiscoupling effects rotation of the cam 33 to move the hill 55 thereof fromengagement with the contact nger 58 as shown in Fig. 5 vto close switch51. At the same time, rotation of the cam 29 to move the drive bar in adirection to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 is effected to place thespring motor 53 under tension, at the completion of which operation thehill 55 will move from engagement with respect to the contact finger 58to close the circuit to the timing motor I6. This timing motor will nowtake over the rotation of the program cam 29 and, each time a step 59 ofthat cam vis presented to the pin 42, the drive bar 3i! will move insnap laction to rotate the bank of cams 45, likewise in snap action toclose one or more of the switches 41 controlled by this bank of cams.Each time the cam 29 is rotated to place the spring motor 53 undertension, the bank of cams 45 ywill be rotated to an initial startingposition.

By this arrangement, the closing or opening of the switches 41 iseffected under quick snaplike action, thereby avoiding delayin suchoperation.

This becomes an important feature in a machine where there are aplurality of periodical operations.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying the invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modications as come Within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patentis:

1. In a timing apparatus, the combination with the shaft of a timingmotor, of a sleeve carried by said shaft for rotation relative thereto,means providing a coupling between said sleeve and said shaft to effectrotation of the sleeve in one direction by rotation of the shaft, saidmeans being ineffective for coupling said sleeve and shaft for rotationin an opposite direction, means for rotating said sleeve independent ofthe rotation of the shaft, a program cam mounted on and rotatable withthe sleeve, a drive member, an element on said drive member adapted toengage the cam surface of the program cam to move the drive member inone direction, a driven shaft, means providing driving connection,between .the driven .shaft and the drive member to eieclt rotation ofthe .driven shaft in one direction by movement of the drive ,memberby.said program cam, and a spring 'having one end portion connected tosaid driven shaft and an opposite end portion to a xed member, forrotating said driven shaft to move the driven member in a directionopposite to the movement of said drive .member by said program cam, saidspring being placed under tension by movement of said drive member bysaid program cam.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the program cam providesa plurality of steps adapted to be successively engaged by said elementon said drive member.

HARRIET IRENE DUVALL, Administratri `of vEstate `of Gordon F. Duvall,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,163,190 Carlson et al. June 20,-1939 ,247,455 Turin et al. July 1., 1941

